Dates Carrot & Walnut Cake | Christmas Special

Years back,when I had not even heard about home-baking,I remember eating a slice of this cake at a friend's place.The fact that cakes can be made at home itself was news to me.Here it was,a rich slice of cake which smelled like fruit cake but it wasn't.It was much more light and delicious and the plus part for me then was,it didn't smell eggy.

I remember getting a recipe from her when I started baking but unfortunately,I lost the recipe somewhere.I was reminded of this recipe again when few years back,I got a similar cake from Ria.Again I started on my search for the perfect carrot cake,just like the one I tasted first.Some were hits and some were so-so but tasted nothing like the carrot cake I remembered.

I stumbled upon this recipe on YouTube and the moment I saw it,I knew this was the one.This recipe in particular does not use any spices but the one I had was spiced,although lightly.I added a bit of cinnamon powder but other than that,haven't deviated from the original recipe.The combination of dates and carrots with walnut is indeed a delicious one.Do try it this Xmas :)

Dates Carrot &Walnut Cake
Recipe source - Bincy's Kitchen

Ingredients

For Caramel syrup

Sugar - 1/4 cup
Water - 1/4 cup

Flour - 1 cup
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
Grated carrots - 1 cup
Chopped Dates - 15-20
Chopped Walnuts - 1/2 cup
Eggs - 2
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Vanilla - 1 tsp
Oil - 3/4 cup

Method

In a pan caramelize the sugar till it turns a deep brown colour.Add the water and let it cook for a minute.Let the syrup cool down completely.
Sift together flour,baking powder,salt and cinnamon powder.Reserve.
Take 1 tbsp of the sifted flour and coat the carrots,dates and walnuts.
Beat the eggs and sugar till creamy.
Mix in the vanilla and oil and beat well.
Add the caramel syrup.
Add the flour little at time and beat well until you get a smooth batter.
Switch to a spatula and fold in the carrots,dates and walnuts.
Pour into a greased/lined pan(I used an 8' round tin) and bake at 180C for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let it cool down completely on a wire rack.

Step by Step Tutorial

In a pan caramelize the sugar till it turns a deep brown colour.Add the water and let it cook for a minute.Let the syrup cool down completely.

Sift together flour,baking powder,salt and cinnamon powder.Reserve.

Take 1 tbsp of the sifted flour and coat the carrots,dates and walnuts.

Beat the eggs and sugar till creamy.

Mix in the vanilla and oil and beat well.

Add the caramel syrup.

Add the flour little at time and beat well until you get a smooth batter.

Switch to a spatula and fold in the carrots,dates and walnuts.

Pour into a greased/lined pan(I used an 8' round tin) and bake at 180C for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Let it cool down completely on a wire rack.